Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services

An example of merchanting services 
Country A sells goods worth 100 units to a merchant in country C, who then resells the same goods to country B 
for 115 units. To demonstrate the situation, it is helpful to consider the recording of merchandise trade as well as 
that of services. 
If all transactions take place in one accounting period, then country A will show merchandise exports of 100 
units and country B will show merchandise imports of 115 units. Country C will record an export of merchanting 
services  of 15 units. This asymmetry in the recommended treatment of such activity arises because of the 
pragmatic assumption that the importer in country B is not likely to know the value of the merchanting profit or 
loss realized by the merchant in country C.  
If the goods are purchased by the merchant in country C in one accounting period and sold to country B in the 
next accounting period, then in the first accounting period country A would record the export of the goods and 
country C would record the import of the goods (which can be regarded as stocks held abroad), both valued at 100 
units. In the next accounting period when the goods are resold, country C would record a negative merchandise 
import equal to the value of the import in the previous period (100 units), country B would record the import of 
goods at 115 units, and country C would record exports of merchanting services of 15 units.
 
 
 

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3.124.  Other trade-related services covers commissions 
on goods and service transactions between (a) resident 
merchants, commodity brokers, dealers, and commission 
agents and (b) non-residents. This component also 
includes transactions in ships, aircraft and sales of goods 
by auction. Excluded are franchising fees (included in 
franchises and similar rights), brokerage in financial 
services (included in financial services) and transport-
related fees (included in the appropriate component of 
transportation services).  
3.125.  Operational leasing services covers resident/non-
resident leasing (rental) and charters, without operators, 
of ships, aircraft and transportation equipment, such as 
railway cars, containers and rigs, without crew. Also 
included are the leasing payments relating to other types 
of goods. Excluded are financial leasing (sometimes 
called capital leasing), leasing of telecommunications 
lines or capacity (included in telecommunications 
services), rental of ships and aircraft with crew (included 
in  transportation services) and rental of vehicles to 
foreign travellers (included in travel).  
3.126.  Legal services covers legal advisory and 
representation services in any legal, judicial and 
statutory procedures; drafting services of legal 
documentation and instruments; certification 
consultancy; and escrow and settlement services.  
3.127.  Accounting, auditing, bookkeeping and tax